St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1887-10-15

Resides its other peculiarities, the theat-
rical profession is saturated with super
stition. For a class whose chances al
mental advancement are so great actors
and actresses have more queer notions 10
the square inch than any other set or
civilized people in the world. An Irish
grandmother or a Teutonic Walpurgls
night believer is not marker to player
whose mind runs on omens. Every bust
ness undertaking has its results de-
termined in his eyes by some unseen in
fluence. The Hibernian dame is content
to apply her superstitions to things splr-
itual If she walks Zigzag through
field she firmly believes the devil cannot
catch her, or should she for the first time
spy a new moon, if she has the presence OF
mind to turn suddenly and look at it
straight over her right shoulder while she
losses q stone over the left shoulder, she
is in great luck and will have
plenty of it before the next
moon slows up. The German may have
any quantity of curious opinions regard
ing gnomes and their doings, but his be-
lief ceases there Not so the theatrical
votary. The commonest acts of his
daily life are gagged by good or bad luck
signs. The only equal he has is the
negro voudoo victim who carries his
"cunger" as a protection against evil.
Actors have an antipathy to the number
thirteen that is so deeply rooted in them
that nothing but death can temper it.
They will not sleep in a room with that
number on it, much less sitting to table
where there are only the bakers dozen.
Common enough among them is the be-
lief that if they go under a ladder they
will have bad luck. The handsomest
purse that could be offered Frank Kilday
could not induce him to walk beneath
this means of aerial travel.
There are actresses. Clara Morris and
Fanny Davenport among them, who
would not perform in theatre where
there was a canary bird or pigeon.
They despise the very sight of pets, and
consider their presence in theatre an
infallible sign that the money receipts
for the engagement they will play will
be miserablY small. On what lines
they have right to argue to this effect
they know not themselves; nevertheless,
they are answering in their belief
and will on every occasion insist that it
will be made paramount to the wishes of
all others. The birds have to 60 if they
play. The load of empty barrels is a
fhreadbare superstition and prophesies
rows of empty seats. Eddie Chapman
would run ten miles to the detriment of
bursting blood-vessel to get out the way
of wagon of empty barrels so firmly
does he imagine that his vision. if crossed
by them, would anticipate dire things in
the near future. He is disciple of the
black-cat theory and strong in his asser-
tons that an ebony-colored feline, devoid
of even single hair of light hue, is the
very best sort of good luck to a theatre
and the company playing therein. Alone
he is not in his quaint notion that such
a cat, should it stray into place Of
amusement, ought to be hailed with de-
light. So deeply rooted is the feel
ing in the mind of Chapman
That whenever he has chance on the
public streets he will kidnap black cat
and make for the theatre where he is
playing with alacrity. If he can get the
murderer of nightly comfort inside he is
glad even to the fullness of his soul, for
its august presence predicates many
shekels into the Golfers of the treasurer
Several years ago, while playing Rollo
in the opera of ''The Mascot" at the
Academy of Music in Baltimore, with
Harry Brown and VIM. B. Brand, he
started for stroll through the town one
pleasant afternoon. Hardly had he gone
two blocks when he saw hldeous, ugly
black cat crossing the street. One look
and the admiration of his whole being
was excited. He made for that cat with
a purpose of capturing it, and that cat
made for an alley to escape the infatu-
ated pursuer. A lively chase ensued to
the delight of a crowd of men and boys,
who yelled at the sight of the well-dressed,
chubby comedian gyrating in his efforts
to corral puss. By dint of hard
work, Chapman caught the cat and
Rugged it in his arms With perspira-
ton streaming down his cheeks he got
bearings on the Academy and cut tracks
for it. His arrival was the source of a
feeling of momentary uneasiness among
the attaches lest something fearful had
happened him. When he recited the cat
wrinkle they excused him. Sure enough,
there was tremendous attendance at
the house that night. A load of hay is
another object of solicitude. An actor
who has glimpse Of one, and who closes
his eyes until the vehicle passes, will
have the satisfaction of having any wish
he makes realized, so the Interpretation
of that omen goes. If he opens his eyes
before the wagon passes, the charm of
the belief is destroyed. Sometimes hay
wagon will turn up side street after the
performer has had his first view Of it.
Plenty of actors will follow it with
closed eyes until it does pass them.
The standard music played in the
tragedy of Macbeth" furnishes the pro-
fession with favorite tunes. Every actor
and actress up in legitimate parts is able
to hum the airs; yet if one of these tunes
is whistled or hummed in theatre, a
misfortune will occur of which small
audience will be the least. To raise an
umbrella in playhouse is CHASTITY trea-
son and an accepted display of desire to